Stools at island unit

[MrsAlwaysRight]

We are currently having our kitchen extended and the kitchen planner wants to know if we want space left underneath so we can have stools.

We don't have this arrangement in our current kitchen and are wondering whether or not it is worth having.

The kitchen table will be next to the island unit and there will also be a small sofa at the other end of the room. Will this be sufficient or do you think it would be useful to have seating at the island unit too?

Thanks

[ABetaDad]

Your kitchen arrangent is exactly the same as ours. Yes definitley leave space under the island to put your knees under so you can eat/work there and store stools. We have an island and the only thing I would change is to have an overhangng ledge on three sides of it to put kness under and store stools under. I am sat at it now and am having to lean forward to type and my kness are wedged against the upboard doors.

Some islands I have seen also have a sort of slide out shelf in the island that can be used to make it a bigger surface but then slid away to make the free space in the kitchen bigger when the extra surface is not needed.

[ADuckCalledErnest]

MrsAR - your kitchen sounds exactly the same as our extension is going to be We're going to have a space for stools. We have them in the kitchen at the moment and everyone sits around them (had 6 people in the kitchen yesterday and it's tiny!) My only problem is I was only going to have space for two (for the dc) but dh likes sitting there too if I'm cooking etc or if I have a friend round with their dc there won't be enough room for everyone!

ABetaDad, do you just have stools one side? Where have you seen these slidy shelves? They sound great!

[ABetaDad]

We rent the house we are in and we just have 2 stools at one end. We would like 4 or 6 but would need an overhanding ledge on 3 sides of the island to have that. We basically live in our kitchen a lot of the time so seating is important when friends and relatives come round.

I saw the slide in shelf a few times on quite hgh end kitchens a few years back. They were for London penthouse flats really so you could have a big island when needed but then slide back to allow more free floorspace when not needed.

If MrsAlwaysRight as got a planner coming in I am sure they wil have seen these as well and be able to get them done. I have seen one just as a fold out ledge as well. A a bit like a small folding table all the way round 3 sides of the island but just wide enough to put a dinner plate on when folded out. Our friends had one made like that by a local joiner.

[HerHonesty]

I would say leave an overhang because i love it when i visit my sister and we can chat whilst she his cooking and cosy for informal suppoers - but make sure the overhang is actually enough to sit at/fit knees under comfortably

[rebl]

Definatly if you can afford to loose potential cupboard space. My parents have an excellent island but I would say its fault is NOT having an overhang for stools. There is nowhere easy to sit in their kitchen when someone is preparing food and therefore the person doing dinner / lunch is often left on their own.

[HerHonesty]

actually i am interested in this thread - we are thinking about having a semicircular overhang to make it a little less erm rectangular... or cosier
...

[rebl]

HH - I like that idea . Sounds cosier, nicer somehow. In fact that might the solution in the new house if we ever get in there. Cutting off the corner makes space as well.

[MrsAlwaysRight]

Thanks for all the replies! We wouldn't have enough space for the sliding shelf. We will have loads of storage in the new kitchen so not overly concerned about losing a few cupboards.
From the comments so far I think I am definately coming round to the idea of having them